Boatswain&#39;s chair



June 17, 1958 c. D. SUMMITT BOATSWAINS CHAIR Filed se m. 24., 1956 INVENTOR, flllarksfi; Jummiil ZS ATTORNEYS United States Patent BOATSWAINS CHAIR Charles D. Summitt, U. S. Military Academy, West Point, N. Y.

Application September 24, 1956, Serial No. 611,800 8 Claims. C1. 155-2 (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

The present invention relates to a folding transfer chair and more particularly to a folding chair for use in transferring personnel from ship to ship or for any purpose where it is desired to employ a chair adapted to be suspended by a cable or other such gear. The present invention is particularly desirable for use in connection with submarines where transfer of passengers is dangerous because of the restricted deck space.

Prior art devices such, for example, as breeches buoys, boatswains seats, and other devices of like nature are difficult to climb into and out of and have an additional disadvantage of trapping a person by entanglement with the structure or lines, if dropped into the water for any reason. Another prior art device comprising a four post chair is not only difiicult to climb into and out of, but the passenger must sit therein in a manner to prevent his aiding himself in take-off or landing.

The chair of the present invention is readily folded for storage and unfolded for use. When in use the passengers arms and legs are free to easily dismount therefrom and to assist in landing or take-off with no danger of be coming entangled in the structure of the chair. This feature is particularly desirable in that drowning of the passenger due to entanglement is prevented if the supporting line breaks and the chair is dropped into the water.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved chair for transferring passengers at sea which is readily prepared for use from a stored condition.

Another object is to provide an improved transfer chair which is readily folded in a flat condition for storage.

Still another object is to provide an improved transfer chair in which the passenger is safely held and from which the passenger may readily dismount without danger of becoming entangled with the structure of the chair.

A further objec. is to provide a transfer chair wherein the passenger is seated in such a manner that his legs and arms are free to assist in the take-off and landing of the chair and thus to avoid injury to an important extent.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the chair of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the chair.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through the seat portion of the chair.

Figure 4 is a view showing the frame of the chair in folded position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, 10 indicates generally the chair of the present invention. The chair 10 comprises a pair of rectangular framemembers 11 and 12 hingedly joined by a pair of upper and lower spacer members 13 and 14, respectively, the hinge connections being indicated at 15.

A substantially triangular sheet metal seat member 16 is hingedly secured to the lower spacer member 14 by a tubular portion 17 formed on the rear side of the seat member. The other two sides of the triangular seat member are formed with depending flanges 18 which are adapted to snap over cross members 19 of the rectangular frame members 11 and 12, thus to hold the seat in operative position and to assist in maintaining the frame members 11 and 12 in the operative position of Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the seat 16 may be raised to the position shown in dotted lines, thus to permit folding of the chair in the substantially flat condition as shown in Figure 4.

A back rest, indicated generally at 21, may comprise a panel 22 of fabric,.such as canvas or other strong material, having a plurality of grommets or eyelets 23 mounted adjacent the periphery thereof. A line or rope 24 is laced through eyelets 23 and around frame members 11 and 12 and spacer 13 to secure the panel 22 in place. Secured to the panel 22 is a pouch 25, which may be employed for the transfer of letters or other articles from ship to ship.

Eyes 26 and 27 are fixed to the tops of frames 11 and 12, respectively, adjacent the hinge connections 15 of spacer 13. Eyes 26 and 27 receive pins 28 of shackles 29. The abutting sides of frames 11 and 12 are provided with eyes 31 and 32, respectively. Eyes 31 and 32 receive a removable pin 33 which assists in securing the abutting sides of the frames 11 and 12 together and to secure a shackle 34 to the eyes 31 and 32.

A plurality of ropes 35, preferably three, are secured to the shackles 29 and 34, the ropes 35 being secured to a single ring 36, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Ring 36 may engage a hook or other means 37 shown in Figure l and forms a part of a transfer apparatus which is employed to carry chair 1% along a cable (not shown) stretched between a pair of ships.

In order to secure the passenger in chair 10 a safety belt 33 is secured at each end thereof to frames 11 and 12 by bolts 39 and end pieces 41. Belt 38 is provided with a separable buckle 42 of the quick-release type and has a take-up slide 43 to adjust the belt to individual requirements of the passengers.

In order to prevent vertical movement of spacer members 13 and 14 on frames 11 and 12, rings 45 are fixed to the frames adjacent the hinge connections 15.

From the foregoing, it is clear that a chair has been provided for safe transportation of a passenger from one ship to another. If the supporting cable or any of the supporting structure breaks, the passenger may quickly release the safety belt and readily disengage himself from the seat, thus saving himself from drowning as the seat falls in the water between the ships. It is also apparent that with the structure of the present invention, the arms and legs of the passenger are free for use in a normal manner to steady himself and to gain a good foothold on the slippery decks of submarines and other vessels during take-off and landing of the chair.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be readily practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A transfer chair for a passenger comprising, a fold able frame having cross'members and having wfolded position and an operative position, said frame being trifixed in each of said frames, anda-seat pivotally mounted prising, a pair of rectangular frames, spacer members a means'for said chair secured to'the top of said frame.

6. Apparatus for transferring a passenger from a ship to another ship comprising, a pair of frame members of rectangular configuration; means hingedly and spacedly interconnecting said frame members at one side thereof, means connecting said frame members in abutting relation at the other sidethereof thereby to provide a substantially triangular form in'the horizontal cross-section, a cross member'fixed in'each of said frame members, a seat: adapted to rest on'said cross members, -aquickreiease safety belt secured to saidframe members and adapted .to hold said passenger onsaid-seat,.:'and=rneans secured to the top of said frame members for suspending said frame members, said-frame members at'the abutting sides thereof providing a convenient hand. hold for said passenger, a back rest secured between the spaced sides of said frame members, whereby a comfortable, safe transfer apparatus results.

:hingedly interconnecting one side of each ofsaid rec- 1 .tangular'frames, releasable means for fastening the other side of each-of said frames in abutting relation, across member fixed in each of said frames, a seat pivotaliy mou ntedon one of said spacer members and adapted belt secured to .saidframe members and adapted to releasably hold-said passenger on said seat.

4. A chair forsuspending a passenger comprising, a

- pair of rectangular frames of tubular construction, hinge means spacedly connecting said frames at one side thereof, pinrneans connecting the other side of said frames in abutting relation, a seat pivotally mounted on said hinge means,- cross members fixed adjacent .the bottom of said .frameniembersand adapted-to support said seat, a plurality of: ropes secured at one end to the tops of i said frames, and a.ring,said ropes being secured to said ring whereby said chair may be suspended.

' "5. A chair for suspending a passenger comprising, a. I tubular frame having means whereby the frame may be 'to rest onsaidcross members, and a quick-release safety Y 7. A transfer chairffor, a passenger comprising abackrest, a frame having upright members supportingQsaid backrest and having a triangularhorizontal cross section frame when in said operativejpositive position having in a a horizontal plane a substantially triangular cross-section,

aseatjportion pivotally mounted on said frameto support a passenger when said'frame'isin operative position and adapted to be pivotedto facilitate folding said frame and flexible'chair suspension means attached to'said'transfer chair above said seat.

at References Cited in the file of this .patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

